This September, the Italian Book Club in Mumbai reads Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi and tales from the Panchatantra
Pinocchio, the beloved Italian tale of a wooden child who longs to become a real boy, is far more than a children’s story. Written in 1883, it’s a rich allegory of growth, temptation, and redemption. As Pinocchio stumbles through misadventures, Collodi crafts a moral universe where choices matter and transformation is earned, making it a cornerstone of Italian children’s literature.
The Panchatantra, originating in ancient India over two millennia ago, is a collection of fables told through animals and layered storytelling. Each tale is designed to impart wisdom on leadership, friendship, and strategy through wit and metaphor sharing with Pinocchio a deep concern for moral education and the shaping of character through experience.
Together, these two works offer a dialogue between tradition and imagination, simplicity and depth, celebrating children’s storytelling as a universal art, and a reflection on how fables can guide us through the complexities of life.
Wednesday 17 September| Title Waves Bookstore, Bandra | 18:30
The books may be read in Italian, Hindi or English.